NECKARSULM (dpa-AFX) - Following an increase in profits last year, the IT service provider Bechtle expects further growth despite the gloomy economic outlook. Revenues and earnings are expected to increase "significantly" this year and the pre-tax margin should remain more or less stable, as the MDax company announced in Neckarsulm on Friday. "Significant" at Bechtle means an increase of between five and ten percent. "The economic tension at the beginning of 2024 is clearly noticeable," said CEO Thomas Olemotz according to the press release. However, the situation should gradually improve over the course of the year, particularly in the second half of the year. Last year, Bechtle increased its profit by almost six percent to 265.5 million euros. The dividend is to rise by five cents to 0.70 euros per share. Bechtle had already presented data on revenue and earnings at the beginning of February./men/mis